Bengaluru: Call it ignorance or adamance. Chitradurga MLA Mr G.H. Thippareddy cast his vote openly without maintaining secrecy even after an appeal was made by polling booth staff to exercise his vote in a place identified for casting votes.

The MLA arrived at the polling booth at 8.30 am to cast his vote in the Chitradurga-Davangere legislative council polls. Polling booth officer Mr S. Rajashekharappa said that the MLA had cast his vote openly.

This matter has been brought to the notice of the district election officer and deputy commissioner Mr. M.K.Srirangaiah. The district election officer Mr. Srirangaiah told reporters that polling booth staff had brought the matter to his notice. Hence, the vote exercised by the MLA will be treated as invalid during counting of votes, he said.

BJP vote suspendedIn Kodagu, the presiding officer of polling booth number 48 in Madikeri suspended the vote of a BJP Zilla Panchayat member, Ravi Kushalappa for allegedly exposing his ballot paper during the Legislative Council election from Kodagu constituency on Sunday.

Congress party agent at the polling booth, Mr V.G. Mohan filed a complaint with the Election Commission in this regard. While BJP leaders opposed the move and got into an argument, the officers who reviewed the video recording, finally suspended Mr Ravi Kushalappa’s vote.

In Mysuru, at Hinkal polling booth, Hinkal Gram Panchayat member, 45-year-old Ramesh arrived in an ambulance from his hospital bed and was moved to the polling booth in a wheel chair where he cast his vote.

He had met with an accident on Saturday night and had fractured his leg.

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